It’s late into the evening here in Staten Island. On a warm summer night, the clock is approaching 2:30 in the morning and I can’t sleep. How could anyone when their team is less than 24 hours away from playing for the Stanley Cup? For the first time in 20 years, the Rangers will have that chance against the Kings starting Wednesday night at Staples Center. Game 1 will be on NBC at 8 EST/5 PST.
Finally, the waiting is over. And I’m not going all Sam Rosen here from 1994. That was a lifetime ago. In fact, many new legions of True Blueshirts didn’t even exist the last time they won or were too young to remember. I liken it to the Yankees winning in ’77 and ’78 when I was a toddler. For me, seeing them finally win a World Series in 1996 was the pinnacle even if Don Mattingly wasn’t part of it. It’s astonishing to think that the Rangers spoiled me in ’94. If we’re getting sentimental, the Giants already won two Super Bowls when I was a teenager. The only major sports team I have yet to see win is the Knicks and the way that’s going, Patrick Ewing might one day become a head coach before it happens.
The last time out, the sports stratosphere was very different. There wasn’t any social media. No Facebook or Twitter for fans, media and players to swarm. It was just root for your team at home unless you were lucky enough to score a ticket to the Cup. Everything was covered in the papers. There was no online edition of the Daily News, Post or Newsday. Your Dad bought the papers and you read them or waited in anticipation for every dying word on MSG Sports Desk or Sports Center. Believe it or not, Madison Square Garden used to actually be pretty cool in the days before Dolan did away with Bob Page and chased Marv Albert away. If you missed any action, you had to invade the airwaves to listen in on Steve Somers, who miraculously still exists on WFAN and still has the familiar punch line that applied the first two rounds during this run: “Rangers In Seven!”
Back then, Howie Rose had one of the greatest calls ever in radio history. In these parts, it’s known as “Matteau! Matteau!” You know the rest. Albert then made his call when the Rangers finally won their fourth Cup erasing a 54-year drought. Since, life hasn’t been kind to the franchise or its fans. I would know. My family having been season subscribers since 1997 following Messier’s departure. Like most, we endured nearly a decade of futility which saw Neil Smith replaced by Glen Sather, who thought it would be easy to build a winner with Dolan’s money. Oops. It took until ’05-06 following the lockout for his team to finally return to the postseason. Coincidentally the same year a seventh round draft pick named Henrik Lundqvist debuted. The future was set. Only once have the Rangers failed to make the playoffs since. Lundqvist won Olympic gold with Sweden and a Vezina carrying the ’11-12 team to the Eastern Conference Finals. They lost to the Devils, who ironically met the same Kings falling in six.
A year following that run, John Tortorella fell out of favor forcing Sather to replace him with Alain Vigneault. A much different coach who took a different tact preaching patience. Through 35 games, they were going nowhere fast and Lundqvist was at a crisis. Struggling to perform even after getting extended, he sat in favor of Cam Talbot, who Vigneault wasn’t afraid to play. But a man familiar to goalie controversies in Vancouver calmly got Lundqvist back in net and allowed him to regain confidence. He finally resembled the all world netminder who’s the only superstar the team has. Nicknamed King Henrik, he’s the biggest reason they’re here. When they needed him to shut down the Flyers in Game 7, he was there. Against the mighty Pens, he held them to three goals the final three games in a stirring comeback from 3-1 down. With the exception of a couple of games, Lundqvist has been at his absolute best. Facing the high powered Kings, he’ll need to be machine like. Facing an offense boasting Anze Kopitar along with former Ranger Marian Gaborik, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty and Justin Williams, it’ll be a huge challenge.
This isn’t just about Lundqvist. Without Martin St. Louis, they don’t get here. Sather rolled the dice at the trade deadline balking at Ryan Callahan’s demands- dealing him along with what turned out to be two first round picks to Tampa Bay for St. Louis. After scoring only once in 19 regular season games, he elevated his play following the death of Mom France. At the time, he was coming off his worst game. The Rangers were booed off the Garden ice falling behind Pittsburgh 3-1. They looked done. They could muster nothing. That all changed. St. Louis rejoined his teammates for Game 5 and they rallied around him. When he scored early in Game 6, MSG erupted in “Mar-ty! Mar-ty!” chants. To be there for that was special. When they forced Game 7, it was like you knew they’d win. St. Louis is so respected that his teammates all attended France’s funeral following Game 1 of the Conference Final in Montreal. He produced scoring a clutch goal in sudden death lifting his team to a 3-1 series lead.
An even bigger inspiration, Dominic Moore got the series clincher when he converted a Brian Boyle feed off a sustained forecheck from the fourth line. Moore’s story is well documented. After losing wife Katie to cancer, he took last year off before opting to return with the team that originally drafted him. He’s been around the league but is a gritty player who knows his role. A perfect fit on the fourth line with Boyle and Derek Dorsett. A cohesive unit that’s been instrumental during this run.
You have de facto captain Brad Richards leading the way in the locker room including that team meeting following the Game 4 disappointment, there’s enough voices who want it badly enough. Richards is back with St. Louis for the first time in a decade aiming for a second Cup. It took them a long time to get back. Something they’ve reminded teammates. Don’t take it for granted. When I was in high school, I thought those Rangers teams would have more runs. Instead, they broke apart and only made one more trip to the Conference Final. Nothing lasts forever. With that thought in mind, here’s a little advice. Win it for yourselves and make history.
Admittedly, I believe the Kings are better. They’re certainly bigger and stronger. They are more talented which is imposing. It’s imperative for the Rangers to come out early and grab Game 1. When you’re an underdog, getting off to a good start is a key. They must use their speed and put LA on the defensive. That means plenty of cycling from Derick Brassard, Benoit Pouliot and fan favorite Mats Zuccarello. They need a better series. Especially Zucc. They’re ability to forecheck and create offensive pressure is essential. So too is the suddenly surging top line of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan and Rick Nash. Ever since Kreider returned, his combination of size and speed has boosted Stepan and Nash. Stepan stepped it up big time against the Canadiens. Nash sprung to life scoring three goals and looking more engaged. Kreider changed everything. So did Carl Hagelin, who can’t be underestimated. His speed was noticeable throughout the third round. He scored big goals and was a beast on the penalty kill.
The Rangers boast their own stud defenseman in Ryan McDonagh. After a quiet first two rounds, he exploded for 10 points against his former team. It all changed for him during the second round comeback. He finally stepped up his aggression and contributed offensively. Defensively, he and partner Dan Girardi are a strong tandem Vigneault trusts along with second pair Marc Staal and Anton Stralman. In order to have success against LA, they need better play from Staal, who struggled with the Habs’ speed. Girardi will also need to hold it together against a ferocious Kings’ forecheck. Kevin Klein is the fifth defenseman who has been quietly a smart addition by Sather, who also deserves credit for adding Raphael Diaz. Diaz will fill in for the suspended John Moore in Game 1. For once, Slats’ moves have panned out including the Gaborik trade that landed Brassard, Moore and Dorsett. Now, they face the sizzling Gaborik, who leads the postseason with 12 goals. None bigger than his last one forcing sudden death in a highly rated Game 7 win over Chicago.
It’s amazing how things come full circle. Gaborik versus his former team. Lundqvist matched up against Jonathan Quick. Don’t listen to all the discussion about Quick’s statistics. If you’ve followed him closely, you know he can make the huge save and steal a game. Don’t listen to all the experts who aren’t giving our team a chance. Are they underdogs? Absolutely. Here’s something to think about. This has been an absolutely great run. Who would’ve ever thought they’d be here after trailing the Pens 3-1? Whatever happens, let’s enjoy it. Cheer loudly.
“Let’s Go Rangers, Let’s Go Rangers!”
hasan4978
Derek
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